"We attacked al Shabaab militants that had attacked Bosaso central cell (prison)," Puntland military said in a statement. "In this operation in the hilly areas outside Bosaso, we also recaptured the prisoners." Mohamed Abdi, a soldier in Puntland's military separately told Reuters 87 prisoners had been recaptured and added some of the recaptured prisoners were members of al Shabaab while others belonged to Islamic State. In the statement, Puntland's military said they had killed 20 al Shabaab fighters and captured four alive in a battle to free the prisoners.